Photographer's Note

During our stay in Inle, we visited the "Jumping Cat monastery" several times. Nanda, the monk I presented you taught us many things about life in Myanmar.

That morning, the monastery was much calmer than the first time we visited and we only met local people instead of travellers from the whole world. No need to say that Burmese are more interested in prayers than the cats which were heavily sleeping at that time.

Suddenly, we saw a large group entering the main room. Nanda explained us they were part of the Palang tribe, from the hills of Kyaing Tung in the Golden Triangle.

Palang people are part of the Pa-O ethnic group : you can recognize this from their colorful wool towels in shape of a Dragon. Some men and women had golden teeth or small heart-shaped emeralds or rubis upside-down set in the front teeth. Some woman had large and heavy silver belts. Nanda explained us they didn't speak burmese but their own language instead.

It was quite a moment since the whole group - around 30 people - started to gather my wife and I, gently smiling at us, even laughing at our smiles or attempts to say "Hello !". Even Nanda was surprised since it was the first time he saw them coming to Inle for a kind of Pilgrim.